Assistant City Planner Salary in the United States

How much does an Assistant City Planner make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Assistant City Planner in the United States is $96,127 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $46.

However, an Assistant City Planner's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $113,331
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $85,026 to $105,132
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $74,920

Key Factors That Influence Assistant City Planner Salaries

An Assistant City Planner's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Assistant City Planner Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Assistant City Planners. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $106,432.
  • California: $106,028.
  • Massachusetts: $104,615.

Top Paying Cities for Assistant City Planners

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $121,245
  • San Francisco: $119,917
  • Oakland: $117,390

What Skills Can Increase an Assistant City Planner's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 31.41% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Business Development (Mentioned in 1.86% Job Postings): Business development entails tasks and processes to develop and implement growth opportunities within and between organizations. It is a subset of the fields of business, commerce and organizational theory. Business development is the creation of long-term value for an organization from customers, markets, and relationships. Business development can be taken to mean any activity by either a small or large organization, non-profit or for-profit enterprise which serves the purpose of ‘developing’ the business in some way. In addition, business development activities can be done internally or externally by a business development consultant. External business development can be facilitated through Planning Systems, which are put in place by governments to help small businesses. In addition, reputation building has also proven to help facilitate business development.
  • Environmental Assessment (Mentioned in 1.28% Job Postings): Evaluating the potential impacts of proposed actions on the environment and identifying alternative options to reduce or eliminate them.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 31.41%
Business Development 1.86%
Environmental Assessment 1.28%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Assistant City Planner's salary.

  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Sense Of Urgency: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Business Development: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Accountability $103,817
8%
Sense Of Urgency $102,856
7%
Business Development $102,856
7%

Assistant City Planner Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Assistant City Planner roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Assistant City Planner positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Assistant City Planner as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Assistant City Planner

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$144,190$69.050%
Aerospace & Defense$124,965$60.030%
Biotechnology$115,352$55.020%

How Education impacts an Assistant City Planner's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Assistant City Planners enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Assistant City Planner with a No Diploma is between $103,446 and $111,242).

Assistant City Planner Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Assistant City Planner
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.7%
High School 40.0%
Associates 53.3%
Bachelors 40.0%
Masters 53.3%
Doctorate 0.0%

Assistant City Planner Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Assistant City Planner's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$85,026
Average $96,127/year
$105,132
$7,086
Average $8,011/month
$8,761
$1,635
Average $1,849/week
$2,022
$41
Average $46/hour
$51
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $105,132 $8,761 $2,022 $51
Average $96,127 $8,011 $1,849 $46
25th Percentile $85,026 $7,086 $1,635 $41

Most common benefits for Assistant City Planner

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Assistant City Planner

Here are companies hiring for Assistant City Planner and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Assistant City Planner

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Assistant City Planner?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Assistant City Planner roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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